DRAGONS TAKE 12-SHOT LEAD INTO FINAL ROUND OF NJCAAs

Harry Crockett just misses this eagle attempt in No 18, but hit the tap-in birdie to give Hutch a 12-stroke lead at the NJCAA Championships on Thursday in Lubbock, Texas. Crockett leads the individual race by two strokes. (Steve Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

Posted: May 12, 2021

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

LUBBOCK, Texas – There were a few more errant shots and those 10- to 15- foot putts weren't falling with the frequency they did on Monday and Tuesday, but the Hutchinson Community College men's golf team is in position to win a national championship on Thursday.

The Blue Dragons posted an even-par 288 in the third round of the NJCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship on Wednesday at The Rawls Course. At 16-under 848 through 54 holes, the Blue Dragons lead Odessa College by 12 strokes entering Thursday's final round.

Hutchinson, Odessa and Midland will pair for the fourth-straight round on Thursday with tee times going off for the final five groups from 1:30 to 2:10 p.m.

The Blue Dragons' previous best national championship finish was a tie for sixth place in 2008. The Blue Dragons have all but secured their fifth national Top 10 finish in team history.

Odessa made a serious threat on Wednesday, playing the first 12 holes in 9-under par as a team. At one point, the Wranglers were within eight strokes of the Blue Dragons.

Momentum and a 12-stroke lead returned to the Blue Dragons in the final pairing playing No. 18 on Wednesday. Blue Dragon freshman Harry Crockett hit his approach to the par-5 18th to within 8 feet for eagle. Crockett narrowly missed the eagle tray, but had a tap-in birdie. Meanwhile Odessa took a double bogey on No. 18 for an instant three-stroke turnaround.

The Blue Dragons are at 848 through 54 holes. Odessa is at 860, Midland is at 866 for third place and Garden City, which shot the best team round in the third round of 5-under 283, is fourth at 874.

Hutchinson got off to a rough start over the first seven holes for the third-straight round, playing those seven holes in a collective 5 over par. Harry Crockett and Ben Partridge held things together as Crockett posted a 68 in the third round and Partridge a 69. The Blue Dragons also counted Charlie Crockett's 75 and Cameron Rios-Ceballos' 77. Trey McCrae had a 78 in the third round.

Harry Crockett continues to be the individual leader after 54 holes at 11-under 205. He had five birdies and an eagle in his round of 68 on Thursday.

Partridge is two strokes back at 207. He shot a 69 in the third round. Russell Detmering of Western Texas is third at 5-under 210.

Rios-Ceballos is tied for 21st at 3-over 219. He shot a 76 on Wednesday. Charlie Crockett is tied for 30th at 221. McCrae is tied for 34th at 7-over 223.